Penn State expected to hire Jim Knowles as DC from Ohio State on 3-year deal

Less than a week after Ohio State won the College Football Playoff national championship, the Buckeyes are losing their defensive coordinator.

Jim Knowles is expected to take the same position at Penn State, as first reported by Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. The two sides are finalizing a three-year deal reportedly worth $3.1 million per season, making him the first college football coordinator to earn an annual salary of at least $3 million.

Ohio State DC Jim Knowles is expected to become the new defensive coordinator at Penn State, sources tell @YahooSports. The two sides are in the process of finalizing an agreement. Big hire for James Franklin.

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 26, 2025

Knowles, 59, makes the move after three seasons in Columbus. Ohio State led the nation in total defense this season, allowing 251.8 yards per game and an average of 161.1 passing yards. (The Buckeyes ranked third in rushing defense, giving up 89.9 yards per game.) Additionally, Knowles’ unit finished tops among FBS teams in scoring defense, averaging 12.2 points allowed.

Ohio State paid Knowles a base salary of $2.2 million this past season, with bonuses based on the Buckeyes’ national title run pushing him close to $3 million.

He was offered a new deal that would have made him the highest-paid coordinator in the nation, surpassing the $2.5 million annual salary earned by Michigan DC Wink Martindale and LSU’s Blake Baker, according to ESPN. Penn State appears to have matched or surpassed that offer.

Knowles also reportedly showed interest in taking defensive coordinator positions at Oklahoma and Notre Dame.

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-expected-to-hire-jim-knowles-as-dc-from-ohio-state-on-3-year-deal-203152572.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2025-01-26 20:31:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.